River Humber | estuary, England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com estuary, England, United Kingdom River Tamar River Humber, North Sea inlet on the east coast of England , one of the major deepwater estuaries of the United Kingdom . The River Humber originates at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Trent and forms the historic boundary between the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire . The Humber is about 40 miles (64 km) long, extends west to east, and, with associated rivers and canals, drains 9,550 square miles (24,750 square km). The estuary itself is more than 0.75 mile (1.2 km) across at its farthest inland point and widens to more than 7 miles (11 km) near its mouth; there Spurn Head, a sand and shingle spit with lighthouse, lifeboat station, and bird sanctuary, extends into the estuary. The great width of the estuary has prevented unified economic development of its traditionally quite different north and south banks. The Humber Bridge (opened in 1981), spanning the estuary, was constructed chiefly to aid further development.

Measuring 4,626 feet (1,410 metres) in length, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it was built and remains the longest in the United Kingdom. The River Humber is lined by the major ports of Kingston upon Hull , Grimsby , and Immingham . Humber Bridge over the River Humber, near Kingston upon Hull, Eng. Tonyharp SAC selection - 1130 Estuaries SAC selection Habitat account - Marine, coastal and halophytic habitats 1130 Estuaries Distribution of SACs/SCIs/cSACs with habitat 1130 Estuaries. Click image for enlarged map. Description and ecological characteristics Estuaries are habitat complexes which comprise an interdependent mosaic of subtidal and intertidal habitats, which are closely associated with surrounding terrestrial habitats. Many of these habitats, such as 1140 Mudflats and sandflats not covered by sea water at low tide, saltmarshes, 1110 Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time and 1170 Reefs, are identified as Annex I habitat types in their own right.

Estuaries are defined as the downstream part of a river valley, subject to the tide and extending from the limit of brackish water. There is a gradient of salinity from freshwater in the river to increasingly marine conditions towards the open sea. The input of sediment from the river, the shelter of the estuary from wave action, and the often low current flows typically lead to the presence of extensive intertidal sediment flats and sediment-filled subtidal channels. There is usually only a limited extent of rocky habitat. In contrast, marine inlets where seawater is not significantly diluted by freshwater are considered as Annex I type 1160 Large shallow inlets and bays. The structure of estuaries is largely determined by geomorphological and hydrographic factors. There are four main sub-types: Coastal plain estuaries. These estuaries have formed where pre-existing valleys were flooded at the end of the last glaciation. They are usually less than 30 m deep, with a large width-to-depth ratio. This is the main sub-type of estuary, by area, in the UK. Bar-built estuaries. These characteristically have a sediment bar across their mouths and are partially drowned river valleys that have subsequently been inundated.

Bar-built estuaries tend to be small but are widespread around the UK coast. Complex estuaries. These have been formed by a variety of physical influences, which include glaciation, river erosion, sea-level change and geological constraints from hard rock outcrops. There are few examples of this sub-type of estuary in the UK. Ria estuaries. Rias are drowned river valleys, characteristically found in south-west Britain. The estuarine part of these systems is usually restricted to the upper reaches. The outer parts of these systems are little diluted by freshwater and typically conform to Annex I type 1160 Large shallow inlets and bays. The intertidal and subtidal sediments of estuaries support biological communities that vary according to the type of sediment and salinity gradients within the estuary, together with geographic location and the strength of tidal streams. The parts of estuaries furthest away from the open sea are usually characterised by soft sediments and the salinity is more strongly influenced by riverine freshwater input. Here the sediment-living animal communities are typically dominated by oligochaete worms, with few other invertebrates.

Where rock occurs, there may be communities characteristic of brackish flowing water, consisting of green unicellular algae, sparse fucoid seaweeds, and species of barnacle and hydroid. The silt content of the sediment decreases towards the mouth of the estuary, and the water gradually becomes more saline. Here the animal communities of the sediments are dominated by species such as ragworms, bivalves and sandhopper-like crustaceans. In the outer estuary, closer to the open sea, the substrate is often composed of fine sandy sediment, and supports more marine communities of bivalves, polychaete worms and amphipod crustaceans. Where rock occurs, a range of species more characteristic of the open coast is found. The upper reaches of estuaries often support saltmarsh at the top of the shore, whilst nearer the estuary mouth this may be replaced by sand dune systems. In addition to the sedentary subtidal and intertidal communities, the water column of estuaries is an important conduit for free-living species, such as fish, and juvenile stages of benthic plants and animals.

In particular, it is the means by which migratory fish species make the transition between the marine and freshwater environments. European status and distribution Estuaries are widespread throughout the Atlantic coasts of Europe. Approximately one-quarter of the area of estuaries in north-western Europe occurs in the UK. UK status and distribution Click to view UK distribution of this habitat The UK has over 90 estuaries. They are widely distributed around the coast but there are few examples in some areas, such as Northern Ireland and western Scotland. Site selection rationale The selection of estuary sites has taken account of the UKï¿½s EU responsibility for this habitat type, and the SAC series contains a high proportion of the total UK resource. Sites have been selected to represent the geographical range of estuaries in the UK, and to encompass examples of the four geomorphological sub-types (coastal plain, bar-built, complex, and ria estuaries) and the associated range of communities.

Selection has generally favoured larger estuaries, as they display a wider variety of habitats, but smaller estuaries have also been selected where they have specific features of interest, such as undisturbed transitions from marine to terrestrial habitats, or are representative of a particular geomorphological sub-type. Sites have generally been selected as entire units, extending from the tidal limit or extent of brackish influence to the estuary mouth, and including all habitats that are important to the integrity of the site. In particular, the water column has been included because of its importance not only in the biological functioning of the system, but also as the means by which sediment is mobilised and transported. Many estuary sites have also been selected as SACs for associated coastal habitats, including sand dunes and saltmarshes. No sites have been selected in Northern Ireland because estuaries are very poorly developed here ï¿½ all the major sea loughs have a negligible freshwater influence. Site accounts Alde, Ore and Butley Estuaries East Anglia This estuary, made up of three rivers, is the only bar-built estuary in the UK with a shingle bar.

This bar has been extending rapidly along the coast since 1530, pushing the mouth of the estuary progressively south-westwards. The eastwards-running Alde River originally entered the sea at Aldeburgh, but now turns south along the inner side of the Orfordness shingle spit. It is relatively wide and shallow, with extensive intertidal mudflats on both sides of the channel in its upper reaches and saltmarsh accreting along its fringes. The Alde subsequently becomes the south-west flowing River Ore, which is narrower and deeper with stronger currents. The smaller Butley River, which has extensive areas of saltmarsh and a reedbed community bordering intertidal mudflats, flows into the Ore shortly after the latter divides around Havergate Island. The mouth of the River Ore is still moving south as the Orfordness shingle spit continues to grow through longshore drift from the north. There is a range of littoral sediment and rock biotopes (the latter on sea defences) that are of high diversity and species richness for estuaries in eastern England. Water quality is excellent throughout. The area is relatively natural, being largely undeveloped by man and with very limited industrial activity.

The estuary contains large areas of shallow water over subtidal sediments, and extensive mudflats and saltmarshes exposed at low water. Its diverse and species-rich intertidal sand and mudflat biotopes grade naturally along many lengths of the shore into vegetated or dynamic shingle habitat, saltmarsh, grassland and reedbed. Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries/ Bae Caerfyrddin ac Aberoedd East Wales, Extra-Regio, West Wales and The Valleys Carmarthen Bay and Estuaries provides an example of a large estuarine site on the south coast of Wales, encompassing the estuaries of the Rivers Loughor, Tï¿½f and Tywi (coastal plain estuaries) and the Gwendraeth (a bar-built estuary). These four estuaries form a single functional unit around the Burry Inlet, with important interchanges of sediment and biota. The estuaries of this site support a range of subtidal and intertidal sediments that grade from sand at the mouth to mudflats in the upper estuary.

The fauna of the sediments varies, but includes communities with polychaete and oligochaete worms and areas with extensive cockle beds and other bivalve molluscs. This site has a range of undisturbed transitions to coastal habitats. Dornoch Firth and Morrich More Extra-Regio, Highlands and Islands Dornoch Firth is the most northerly large, complex estuary in the UK. The estuary is fed by the Kyle of Sutherland and is virtually unaffected by industrial development. There is a complete transition from riverine to fully marine conditions and associated communities. Inland, and in sheltered bays, sediments are generally muddy. Gravelly patches occur in the central section of the Firth. Wide sandy beaches dominate the large bays at the mouth of the Firth, and areas of saltmarsh occur around the shores. Sublittoral sediments are predominantly medium sands with a low organic content. Several of the associated coastal habitats have been proposed as Annexï¿½I interests in their own right. Drigg Coast Cumbria Drigg is an example of a small, bar-built estuary on the north-west coast of England.

It is fed by three rivers (the Irt, Mite and Esk) which discharge through a mouth that has been narrowed by large sand and shingle spits. The sediments within the estuary are largely muddy within the Rivers Irt and Mite, while those of the Esk are more sandy, particularly towards the mouth. There is a substantial freshwater influence in the upper reaches of all three rivers, with good development of associated animal communities. Within the site are some of the least-disturbed transitions to terrestrial habitats of any estuary found in the UK. Essex Estuaries Essex, Extra-Regio This is a large estuarine site in south-east England, and is a typical, undeveloped, coastal plain estuarine system with associated open coast mudflats and sandbanks. The site comprises the major estuaries of the Colne, Blackwater, Crouch and Roach rivers and is important as an extensive area of contiguous estuarine habitat. Essex Estuaries contains a very wide range of characteristic marine and estuarine sediment communities and some diverse and unusual marine communities in the lower reaches, including rich sponge communities on mixed, tide-swept substrates.

Sublittoral areas have a very rich invertebrate fauna, including the reef-building worm Sabellaria spinulosa, the brittlestar Ophiothrix fragilis, crustaceans and ascidians. The site also has large areas of saltmarsh and other important coastal habitats. Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary Eastern Scotland, Extra-Regio The Firth of Tay and the Eden estuary are two high-quality estuarine areas. The two estuaries have been proposed within a single site because they are integral components of a large, geomorphologically complex area that incorporates a mosaic of estuarine and coastal habitats. The Tay is the least-modified of the large east coast estuaries in Scotland, while the Eden estuary represents a smaller ï¿½pocketï¿½ estuary. The inner parts of the estuaries are largely sheltered from wave action, while outer areas, particularly of the Tay, are exposed to strong tidal streams, giving rise to a complex pattern of erosion and deposition of the sandbank feature at the firthsï¿½ mouth.

The sediments within the site support biotopes that reflect the gradients of exposure and salinity, and are typical of estuaries on the east coast of the UK. The abundance, distribution and composition of the associated plant and animal communities are ecologically representative of northern North Sea estuaries. Humber Estuary East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire, Extra-Regio, Lincolnshire The Humber is the second-largest coastal plain estuary in the UK, and the largest coastal plain estuary on the east coast of Britain. It is a muddy, macro-tidal estuary, fed by the Rivers Ouse, Trent and Hull, Ancholme and Graveney. Suspended sediment concentrations are high, and are derived from a variety of sources, including marine sediments and eroding boulder clay along the Holderness coast. This is the northernmost of the English east coast estuaries whose structure and function is intimately linked with soft eroding shorelines.

Habitats within the Humber Estuary include 1330 Atlantic salt meadows and a range of sand dune types in the outer estuary, together with subtidal sandbanks (H1110 Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time), extensive intertidal mudflats (H1140 Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide), glasswort beds (H1310 Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand), and 1150 coastal lagoons. As salinity declines upstream, reedbeds and brackish saltmarsh communities fringe the estuary. These are best-represented at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Trent at Blacktoft Sands. Upstream from the Humber Bridge, the navigation channel undergoes major shifts from north to south banks, for reasons that have yet to be fully explained. This section of the estuary is also noteworthy for extensive mud and sand bars, which in places form semi-permanent islands.

Significant fish species include 1099 river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis and 1095 sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus which breed in the River Derwent, a tributary of the River Ouse. Morecambe Bay Cumbria, Extra-Regio, Lancashire Morecambe Bay in north-west England is the confluence of four principal estuaries, the Leven, Kent, Lune and Wyre (the latter lies just outside the site boundary), together with other smaller examples such as the Keer. Collectively these form the largest single area of continuous intertidal mudflats and sandflats in the UK and the best example of muddy sandflats on the west coast. The estuaries are macro-tidal with a spring tidal range of 9ï¿½m. The significant tidal prisms of the estuaries result in the Bay being riven by large low-water channel systems. The Kent, Leven and Lune estuaries have been modified variously by railway embankments, flood embankments and training walls but support extensive intertidal areas.

Although cobble ï¿½skearsï¿½ and shingle beaches occur at their mouths, the estuaries consist predominantly of fine sands and muddy sands. The estuaries support dense invertebrate communities, their composition reflecting the salinity and sediment regimes within each estuary. Extensive saltmarshes and glasswort Salicornia spp. beds are present in the Lune estuary, contrasting with the fringing saltmarshes and more open intertidal flats of the Leven and Kent estuaries. Most of the saltmarshes are grazed, a characteristic feature of north-west England. In the upper levels of the saltmarshes there are still important transitions from saltmarsh to freshwater and grassland vegetation. Water quality is generally good. Pembrokeshire Marine/ Sir Benfro Forol Extra-Regio, West Wales and The Valleys Pembrokeshire Marine includes the Daugleddau estuary, a ria estuary in south-west Wales, formed in the upper reaches of one of the best examples of a ria in the UK. Associated with the wide range of environmental conditions, particularly seabed substrates, tidal streams and salinity gradients, there is a wide diversity of communities and species.

The species-richness of sediment communities throughout Milford Haven and the Daugleddau is high. Tide-swept sponge communities on shell/cobble substrates and bedrock in the upper reaches of the Daugleddau are exceptional in their diversity. The site also includes smaller estuaries entering the Daugleddau and Milford Haven, and wide intertidal mudflats with rich and productive invertebrate annelid and mollusc communities, occurring in ï¿½pillsï¿½ (creeks). Pen Llyn a`r Sarnau/ Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau East Wales, Extra-Regio, West Wales and The Valleys Pen Llyn aï¿½r Sarnau has representative examples of bar-built estuaries in north-west Wales, and includes the Glaslyn/Dwyryd, Mawddach and Dyfi estuaries. There is a continuous gradient between the clean sands near the entrance to the sea and the mud or muddy sands in the sheltered extremes of the estuaries.

The intertidal sandflats support communities of burrowing invertebrates, including dense populations of polychaete worms, crustaceans, bivalve molluscs and gastropod molluscs. Saltmarsh fringing the shores of the estuaries, and the saltmarsh creeks and pools, are important habitat features for juvenile fish. Plymouth Sound and Estuaries Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Devon, Extra-Regio Plymouth Sound and Estuaries is representative of ria estuaries in south-west England. The Rivers Tamar and Lynher are linked at their mouths. The upper parts of the Tamar and Lynher include a very well-developed estuarine salinity gradient. As a consequence, they exhibit one of the finest examples in the UK of changing estuarine communities with changing salinity regime. Rocky reefs in low salinity estuarine conditions far inland on the Tamar are very unusual and support species such as the hydroid Cordylophora caspia. The Tamar is one of few estuaries where zonation of rocky habitats (intertidal and subtidal) can be observed along an estuarine gradient.

Dorset and Somerset, East Wales, Extra-Regio, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol/Bath area Habitat occurrence account not yet available. Solent Maritime Extra-Regio, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Surrey, East and West Sussex The Solent encompasses a major estuarine system on the south coast of England with four coastal plain estuaries (Yar, Medina, Kingï¿½s Quay Shore, Hamble) and four bar-built estuaries (Newtown Harbour, Beaulieu, Langstone Harbour, Chichester Harbour). The site is the only one in the series to contain more than one physiographic sub-type of estuary and is the only cluster site. The Solent and its inlets are unique in Britain and Europe for their hydrographic regime of four tides each day, and for the complexity of the marine and estuarine habitats present within the area. Sediment habitats within the estuaries include extensive estuarine flats, often with intertidal areas supporting eelgrass Zostera spp. and green algae, sand and shingle spits, and natural shoreline transitions.

The mudflats range from low and variable salinity in the upper reaches of the estuaries to very sheltered almost fully marine muds in Chichester and Langstone Harbours. Unusual features include the presence of very rare sponges in the Yar estuary and a sandy ï¿½reefï¿½ of the polychaete Sabellaria spinulosa on the steep eastern side of the entrance to Chichester Harbour. Solway Firth Cumbria, Extra-Regio, South Western Scotland The Solway is a large, complex estuary on the west coast of Britain. It is one of the least-industrialised and most natural large estuaries in Europe. Tidal streams in the estuary are moderately strong and levels of wave energy can be high. There is considerable seasonal fluctuation in water temperature, owing to the shallow nature of the estuary. The sediment habitats present, mainly dynamic sandflats and subtidal sediment banks, are separated by six main river channels, which are continually changing their patterns of erosion and accretion. The sublittoral sediment communities are typically sparse in the inner estuary, owing to the mobility of the sediment coupled with low and variable salinity.

Communities become richer towards the outer estuary, where there are less extreme environmental conditions and more varied substrates. The dominant species of bivalve molluscs, polychaete worms, crustaceans and echinoderms vary, depending on location within the estuary. Humber | Define Humber at Dictionary.com Humber noun 1. an estuary of the Ouse and Trent rivers in E England. 37 miles (60 km) long. Dictionary.com Unabridged Examples from the Web for Humber Expand Historical Examples In the month of September the two reached the Humber, and Harold marched to meet them, resting neither day nor night. The World's Greatest Books, Vol XI. Edited by Arthur Mee and J.A. Hammerton But his attempt to fly from the mast-top of a boat in the Humber failed. British Dictionary definitions for Humber Expand noun 1.

an estuary in NE England, into which flow the Rivers Ouse and Trent: flows east into the North Sea; navigable for large ocean-going ships as far as Hull; crossed by the Humber Bridge (1981), a single-span suspension bridge with a main span of 1410 m (4626 ft). Length: 64 km (40 miles) Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 The River Ouse - JORVIK JORVIK York's Heritage The River Ouse, flowing through York along with the Foss, has aided the city’s progress – and occasionally its periodic demise from unwanted and fearful ‘travellers’ such as the Black Death and the Danish invaders.

Nowadays it provides leisure amenities: fishing, canoeing and rowing, boat trips, strolls by its banks and pleasant scenery for the observer from many of its wonderful bridges , and every July the York Rivers Festival. For many the flooding potential of the Ouse holds fear; York’s centre has seen this realised many times, in spite of flood defences, bringing major disruption for roads and businesses. The usage of the Ouse has changed dramatically over the years – Pleasure boat rides are now commonplace The Ouse, 52 miles long, is formed from the River Ure in North Yorkshire and flows around 13 miles through York. It eventually joins the River Trent at Trent Falls as the Humber Estuary. The river drains a considerable area of Northern England including large expanses of the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors; its many tributaries include the Swale, Aire, Wharfe, and Nidd. Roman York founded at the confluence of the Ouse and the Foss made good defence from the surrounding marshy areas. Its transportation routes advanced York as a river port; originally tidal it was reachable to sea-going ships of the period.

Roman jetties, wharves and warehouses have been uncovered on both the Foss and the Ouse’s banks, indicating the early York traders’ wide use of water-borne transport. The Vikings captured York in 866 bringing advanced shipbuilding and seafaring knowledge which together with the Ouse and Humber’s North Sea access enabled York to import and export increasing its commercial status. The city enjoyed diverse geographical trading. Although the Vikings established further trade routes for York, the constant threat of their river incursions via the Humber and the Ouse lasted until the mid-11th century. Early Norman York had remained a vital trading port and by the 14th century became England’s second richest city. York was exporting goods such as wool and grain to Northern Europe while importing fruits from Spain. The Black Death partly introduced from trading ships on the Humber in 1349 swiftly reduced both York’s population and its wealth. Most sea-going ships of the late 16th century could not navigate the Ouse partly due to their great size and partly due to the river’s accumulating sediment.

In 1688 York saw the city under the control of local gentry and merchants; however, its commercial dominance as a trading centre fell to the West Riding of Yorkshire – the silting up of the River Ouse played a major role in this. Naburn Lock, downstream of York, was built to aid navigation in 1757, deflecting the Ouse’s tidal powers; this brought a new wave of shipbuilding to the city. The River Ouse was essential for the establishment of the chocolate producers such as Rowntree’s and Terry’s , bringing in raw ingredients and machinery to riverside factories. Eventually the railways’ arrival heralded in the industrial age of the 19th century though barges transported freight on the Ouse between York and Hull right up to the end of the 20th century. In 1989 the Ouse came under control of The Canal and Rivers Trust. Humber - definition of Humber by The Free Dictionary Humber - definition of Humber by The Free Dictionary Also found in: Thesaurus , Encyclopedia , Wikipedia . Hum·ber (hŭm′bər) An estuary of the Trent and Ouse Rivers in northeast-central England.

It is navigable for large vessels as far inland as Hull. Humber (ˈhʌmbə) n (Placename) an estuary in NE England, into which flow the Rivers Ouse and Trent: flows east into the North Sea; navigable for large ocean-going ships as far as Hull; crossed by the Humber Bridge (1981), a single-span suspension bridge with a main span of 1410 m (4626 ft). Length: 64 km (40 miles) Hum•ber (ˈhʌm bər) n. an estuary of the Ouse and Trent rivers in E England. 37 mi. (60 km) long. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend: Noun 1. Humber - an estuary in central northeastern England formed by the Ouse River and the Trent River England - a division of the United Kingdom Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content .

Link to this page: View in context In the beginning of one of them Alfred says, "There are only a few on this side of the Humber who can understand the Divine Service, or even explain a Latin epistle in English, and I believe not many on the other side of the Humber either. View in context Raffles rode a Beeston Humber, a Royal Sunbeam was good enough for me, but he insisted on our both having Dunlop tires. Raffles smeared vaseline upon the plated parts of his Beeston Humber before starting, and our dear landlady cosseted us both, and prayed we might see nothing of the nasty burglars, not denying as the reward would be very handy to them that got it, to say nothing of the honor and glory. But we've left our bikes outside, and mine's a Beeston Humber," continued Raffles.

Humber estuary | Article about Humber estuary by The Free Dictionary Humber estuary | Article about Humber estuary by The Free Dictionary Related to Humber estuary: River Humber Humber, river, c.75 mi (120 km) long, rising in the Long Range Mts., W Newfoundland, N.L., Canada, and flowing SE then SW, through Deer Lake, to the Bay of Islands at Corner Brook. Humber, navigable estuary of the Trent and Ouse rivers, c.40 mi (60 km) long and from 1 to 8 mi (1.6–12.9 km) wide, NE England, forming the boundary between between the East Riding of Yorkshire and Hull (N) and North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire (S). Spurn Head, with a lighthouse, is at the mouth of the Humber. The shores are generally low, and shoals obstruct shipping in parts. Encroachment of the sea has destroyed former ports, notably Ravenspur. In early English history the Humber was significant as a means of ingress. Hull Hull, officially Kingston upon Hull, city and unitary authority (2011 pop.

256,406), NE England, on the north shore of the Humber estuary at the influx of the small Hull River. ..... Click the link for more information. and Great Grimsby Great Grimsby or Grimsby, city (1991 pop. 139,877), North East Lincolnshire, E central England, at the mouth of the Humber River. It is one of the largest fishing ports in the world. ..... Click the link for more information. are chief cities and major fishing ports. The Humber Bridge Humber Bridge, vehicular suspension bridge across the Humber estuary, E England. Completed in 1981, it links Kingston upon Hull (see Hull) with the estuary's southern shore. ..... Click the link for more information. , linking Hull with the estuary's southern shore, opened in 1981. Humber an estuary on the eastern coast of Great Britain. The Humber constitutes the outlet into the North Sea for the Ouse (Yorkshire Ouse) and Trent rivers. It is 59 km long and up to 13 km wide.

The tide range is 5.8 m at the estuary’s head and 6.5 at its mouth. The estuary is accessible to ships with a draft of up to 4.8 m. The Ports of Hull and Grimsby are situated on the Humber. Humber an estuary in NE England, into which flow the Rivers Ouse and Trent: flows east into the North Sea; navigable for large ocean-going ships as far as Hull; crossed by the Humber Bridge (1981), a single-span suspension bridge with a main span of 1410 m (4626 ft.). Length: 64 km (40 miles) River Ouse - Major Rivers Of The British Isles Major Rivers Of The British Isles There are four rivers which go by the name of Ouse, all of which are located in England. There is the thirty seven mile long River Little Ouse, which flows between the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, the forty two mile long River Ouse, which runs through the counties of East and West Sussex, the fifty two mile long River Ouse, which flows through the county of Yorkshire and the one hundred and forty three mile long River Ouse which runs through East Anglia.

The name Ouse is of Celtic origin and is formed from the word usa, which means water. The word ouse is prounounced like ooze. RIVER LITTLE OUSE, NORFOLK / SUFFOLK. Image courtesy of Stephen McKay, wikimedia commons. The River Little Ouse flows for thirty seven miles from it's source in the village of Thelnetham on the Norfolk / Suffolk border to where it meets with the River Great Ouse at Littleport in Cambridgeshire. The river runs through the SSSI wetland sites of Blo'Norton and Thelnetham Fens, past the nineteenth century Button Mill, a grade II lIsted tower windmill built in 1819, on through the SSSI site of Buggs Hole Fen and through the villages of Rushford and Hockweld Cum Wilton in Norfolk, the Norfolk market town of Thetford, pictured above, and the Suffolk market town of Brandon.

Part of the river's course also flows through the sixty nine acre, SSSI site of Thetford Forest, the largest, low lying pine forest in Britain, and the gorse covered heath land known as Breckland, reportedly the driest area in the United Kingdom. The river's main tributary is the River Thet, which it joins in the market town of Thetford in Norfolk. The river is served by twelve bridges, three weirs, one sluice and one pumping station situated on Twelve Foot Drain. RIVER OUSE, EAST SUSSEX / WEST SUSSEX. Image courtesy of Ian Stannard, wikimedia commons The River Ouse in Sussex flows for forty two miles from it's source at Plummer's Plain near Lower Beeding in West Sussex to it's mouth at the coastal town of Newhaven, pictured above, located on the English Channel.

The river at first, runs in an easterly direction and then in a southerly direction through the chalk covered landscape of the South Downs and on through the villages and towns of Barcombe Mills, Hamsey, Hayward's Heath, Isfield, Lewes, Newhaven, Piddinghoe and Slaugham, where it passes through several places of interest including the six hundred and twenty eight square mile, South Downs National Park, the SSSI Site at Heart of Reeds and the eight hundred and twenty two acre SSSI site at Lewes Brooks, both situated outside Lewes. The river is navigable for twenty two miles between Lewes and Balcolme where it is served by nineteen locks. The river has one notable tributary, the three mile long, River Uck, which it joins at Isfield.

The river is served by several bridges, including the Willey's Footbridge, the Phoenix Causeway road bridge and the Grade II listed, Cliffe Bridge, opend in 1732, all situated in Lewes and the Newhaven Swing Bridge, the Grade I Listed, Southease Swing Bridge which was opened in 1880 and the Grade II Listed, Ouse Valley Viaduct, a ninety six foot high, brick built viaduct with thrity seven semi circular arches which was opened in 1841 and situated between Hayward's Heath and Balcombe. RIVER OUSE, YORKSHIRE The River Ouse in Yorkshire begins life as a tributary of the seventy four mile long, River Ure, at a place called Cuddy Shaw Reach, just outside the Yorkshire village of Linton On Ouse. The river travels for fifty two miles until it meets with the one hundred and eighty five mile long, River Trent, at Trent Falls near Flaxfleet, where they both flow into the Humber Estuary and then out into the North Sea.

The river flows through thirty four towns and villages along it's route, including Goole, Fulford, Selby, Skelton, Swinefleet and the ancient walled City of York. The river is renowned for having several large tributaries, including the twenty eight mile long River Floss, the fifty eight mile long River Nidd and the Rivers Aire, Derwent, Don, Dutch River, Rother. Swale and Wharfe, all of which are between sixty and seventy miles long. The river flows through the Ouse Valley which makes up part of the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors, National Parks. The river also forms part of the Blacktoft RSPB Reserve situated near Goole. The river passes the house and grounds of the Georgian Mansion, Benington Hall, before arriving at the City of York, where it is spanned by nine bridges within the environs of the city centre. The oldest of these bridges are the Ouse Bridge, which was completed in 1818, the Scarborough Railway Bridge, completed in 1845 and the Lendal Bridge, pictured above, which was completed in 1863.

The river then goes on to flow past Naburn Marina, the nineteen acre SSSI site of Howden Island and Goole Docks. The river is tidal as far as Naburn where it is served by locks and a weir, another lock and weir at Linton and a lock at Castle Mill in the City of York. The river also forms part of the twenty three mile long, Selby Canal, which begins at Selby. The river is also served by two swing bridges, one at Cawood, which was completed in 1872 and one across the Selby Canal. RIVER GREAT OUSE, ENGLAND. The River Great Ouse has it’s source at Wappenham near Syresham in Northampton. It travels in a northeasterly direction for one hundred and forty three miles before it drains into The Wash situated on the North Sea.

The river flows through extensive areas of low lying wetlands and fens as it passes through a multitude of towns and villages, including the Northamptonshire town of Brackley, the Buckinghamshire towns of Buckingham, Milton Keynes, Stoney Stratford and Newport Pagnel, the Bedfordshire towns of Olney, Kempston, Great Barford and Bedford, the Huntingdonshire towns of St Neots, Godmanchester, Huntingdon and Hemingford Grey, the Cambridgeshire towns of St Ives and Earith and the Norfolk towns of Downham Market and King’s Lynn. The river has several tributaries, the largest of which are the forty mile long, River Cam, the thirty one mile long, River Wissey and the thirty mile long, River Lark. Other notable tributaries are the fifteen mile long, River Ivel, which it joins at Tempsford, the fifteen mile long, River Kym, which it joins at St Neots, the fifteen mile long, River Nar, which it joins at King’s Lynn and the twelve mile long, River Babingley, which it also joins at King’s Lynn.

The river is served by hundreds of bridges, the oldest two being the Grade II Listed bridge at Huntingdon, pictured above, which was completed in 1332 and the bridge at St Ives, which was completed in 1425. There is also another Grade II listed bridge situated at Great Barford in Bedfordshire, which was completed in 1874. The river flows through several drainage systems along it’s route, including the former Roman built locks at Salter’s Lode, the former Roman built locks at Soham Lode, the sixteenth century, Denver Sluice, which was built to re-route the river through to King’s Lynn and the Middle Levels Navigation, a network of drainage systems along the River Great Ouse and the River Nene situated in fen land between Cambridge and Peterborough, which was completed in 1862. The river is also served by five sluices and twenty two locks. Throughout it’s length the River Great Ouse is renowned for it’s vast stocks of course fish, for being the site of several water mills and wind mills and for it’s many boating marinas.

River Ouse - Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust River Ouse You are here: Home / Your Rivers / River Ouse About River & Catchment The River Ouse is formed from the River Ure at Cuddy Shaw Reach near Linton-on-Ouse, about six miles downstream of the confluence of the River Swale with the River Ure. It then flows through the city of York and the towns of Selby and Goole before joining with the River Trent at Trent Falls, near the village of Faxfleet, to form the Humber Estuary. The length of the Ouse is about 84 km and the combined Ure/Ouse river is about 208 km making it the sixth longest river in the UK. The word ‘ouse’ is a very common name for rivers in England; it derives from the Celtic word ‘Usa’, from *udso-, which simply means ‘water’.

‘River Ouse’ therefore means ‘River Water’ The Ouse’s system of tributaries (which includes the Derwent, Aire, Don, Wharfe, Rother, Nidd, Swale, Ure, and Foss) drains a large upland area of northern England, including much of the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. There four riverside SSSIs associated with the Ouse around York; Clifton Ings and Rawcliffe Meadows, Fulford Ings, Naburn Marsh and Acaster South Ings. Ings meadows were used as a source of hay and to provide late summer grazing for livestock. They are often flooded in winter. The Ouse valley is a wide, flat plain; heavy rainfall in the river’s catchment area can bring severe flooding to nearby settlements. In recent years both York and Selby, and villages in between, have been very badly hit. The river has two weirs with locks, at Linton-on-Ouse and Naburn, so that larger boats can reach York. It has been used as a commercial navigation since the time of the Romans. The Ouse is tidal up to Naburn Locks.

Projects The following Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust projects relate to the river Ouse: Yorkshire… River Trent | Canal & River Trust Find events and activities within miles of Running for around 95 miles from Shardlow to Trent Falls, where both it and the River Ouse empty their waters into the River Humber, the navigable Trent is a waterway of substance which still carries a considerable amount of commercial traffic - especially in its lower reaches. Below Cromwell Lock, it becomes tidal and is subject to a periodic tidal bore similar to that seen on the River Severn, but to lesser effect. This is locally known as an 'aegir'. The Trent Valley Way is a long-distance walking route, following the banks of the river. The scenery is mostly arable farmland, with villages, churches, watermills and old ferry crossings along the way. Newark Castle sits directly on the banks of the river, its high stone walls dropping straight down to the water. Near Nottingham is the National Watersports Centre, where you can do lots of exciting activities, including canoeing, sailing, water-skiing and rowing. The British Canoe Union is based here.

For a more tranquil day out, there is the Attenborough Nature Reserve, a series of lakes that are home to a rich variety of wildlife. For boaters, the broad and fast-flowing River Trent is a clear contrast to the canals. However, the tidal reaches below Cromwell Lock are only recommended for experienced boaters. We look after the River Trent from Shardlow, where it becomes navigable, to Gainsborough Bridge. Find stoppages, restrictions and other navigational advice for this waterway. The history Although the River Trent has been the subject of various Acts of Improvement since the 17th century, it has actually been used as a navigation since Roman times. It has long been a vital commercial link between the Midlands and the Humber Estuary; after transshipment at Gainsborough or Hull, loads could go on to London or the Continent. The Fossdyke was built by the Romans from Torksey on the Trent to Lincoln, where it joined the River Witham. Various of the connecting rivers were made navigable in the 18th century: the Derwent to Derby, the Soar to Loughborough and the Idle to Bawtry.

Pressure to improve the Trent intensified after the opening of the Trent & Mersey Canal from Shardlow to Great Haywood in 1770, reaching the Potteries two years later. Locks were built at Newark in 1773. Further locks below Nottingham and a towpath were made in the 1780s. North of Nottingham the river was improved by making long cuts bypassing the shoals on the river itself; these works were completed by 1801. Meanwhile, the Erewash Canal had opened (1779) and the Soar Navigation improved with the construction of six locks (1780), followed by the opening of the Derby Canal (1795), Nottingham Canal (1796) and Grantham Canal (1797). The River Trent had been navigable up to Burton-upon-Trent, but the Trent & Mersey Canal took away most of the traffic on this section, which became virtually disused by the early 19th century. The railways arrive The Trent company had four prosperous decades until the arrival of the railways led to toll reductions. By the 1880s the navigation was in a bad way.

It was clear what improvements were needed in order to compete successfully: larger locks, a deeper dredged channel, and steam-powered boats. The necessary Acts were passed; despite money being difficult to raise, much work was done. Nottingham Corporation made major investments and took over the river between the city and Newark in 1927. After nationalisation in 1948 more work was done, culminating in the enlargement of Cromwell and Newark Locks. These improvements proved successful: traffic rose from 200,000 tons in 1893 to 390,000 tons in 1910, 620,000 tons in 1937 and 1,020,000 tons in 1964. Commercial traffic has diminished since then, now being mainly gravel.

Question: What is the name of the estuary at the mouths of the rivers Ouse and Trent?
Answer: HUMBER